WPNEM: INEX 3

Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters: International Nuclear Emergency Exercises 2005-2006

The INEX 3 series of consequence management exercises took place in 2005-2006. Earlier INEX series focused primarily on the pre-release, release and short-term post-release phase of a nuclear emergency. The INEX 3 series was established to help NEA member countries better manage their response in the latter phases of a nuclear emergency. INEX 3 participants addressed the decision-making processes employed once serious radiation contamination has taken place. This was achieved by examining the related consequence management issues through a set of tabletop exercises based on a generic "footprint" radiation contamination pattern. Fifteen countries used this footprint to examine how they might, in the wake of such contamination, implement agricultural countermeasures and food restrictions, adopt "soft" countermeasures (such as travel, trade and tourism controls), communicate with the public and move towards recovery.

To evaluate the results of this exercise series, a workshop on the INEX 3 consequence management exercises was held in Paris, France on 30 May-1 June 2006. The workshop was organised by the NEA working party on nuclear emergency management (WPNEM) with the support of the US Department of Energy. About 100 participants from 22 countries and two international organisations shared their national experiences of the exercise, collectively analysed their approaches to the exercise, discussed the implications of any differences on decision makers, and identified issues needing additional examination at the international level. The NEA has published a synthesis report of the exercise series, workshop and follow-up activities.

Based on the experience of this and earlier INEX exercises, the WPNEM has also developed a report on “Strategic aspects of nuclear and radiological emergency management”, which is intended to facilitate compatible and/or consistent approaches to consequence management and recovery amongst the multiple layers of organisations and entities, nationally and internationally, involved in responding to emergency situations.